Hair Band

ABSTRACT

A linear hair fastening device with a loop at one end and a ball or cone shape at the other end. A small tab protrudes from the distal end of the loop. The ball/cone is inserted into the loop forming a circle. The apparatus can then be used in the same manner as a ponytail holder. The apparatus may then be removed from the hair by pulling on the tab at the end of the loop, pulling the loop over the ball/cone end, and returning the apparatus to linear form.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Non-Provisional Patent Application claims priority to Provisional Patent U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/766,273, filed on Feb. 19, 2013, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and claims priority thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair accessories and hair accessory devices. The present claimed invention relates to hair bands for securely holding a portion of hair without pulling or damaging hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair bands are traditionally rubber bands that are used to hold hair in place. Hair accessories are well known in the art and are available in a variety of fashions. Numerous devices have been developed to assist people in creating desirable hair arrangements. Depending on the occasion, it may be desirable to use a hair accessory to position the hair in a certain arrangement or to securely hold the hair off the shoulders or away from the face. Consequently, a wide variety of hair accessories are available to securely hold the hair and for decorative purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above stated situation by providing an invention that is designed to allow easy removal of ponytail holder without causing any damage to the hair. Prior to this many ponytail holders claim to be easily removed without damaging the hair, but the catch and pull on hair causing pain and breakage of the hair. The invention provides a truly easily removable rubber band that unwinds from hair preventing any pulling or damage while still functioning as any other ponytail holder for placement and use.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair band, shown in its environment;

FIG. 2 shows the hair band of FIG. 1, shown in its relaxed form; and

FIG. 3 shows the hair band of FIG. 1, shown in its engaged form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.

Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following detailed description is presented for the purpose of describing certain embodiments in detail. The present invention may be further illustrated in the following figures, attention being called to the fact, however, that the embodiments described in the description and shown in the figures are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that changes may be made in the specific constructions described in this specification and accompanying drawings that a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are within the scope and spirit of the invention. The true scope of the invention is defined by the claims. Further, any features of any embodiment described herein are equally applicable to any other embodiment described herein or envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art. The detailed description and figures provided herein should not be construed to exclude features otherwise described with respect to another embodiment.

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown hair band 10 for enclosing and fastening hair. In FIG. 1, the hair band 10 is shown in its environment. The hair band 10 is engaged and is holding hair in place in ponytail form.

In FIG. 2, the hair band 10 is shown in an unengaged condition.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows the hair band 10 in its engaged condition. As used here a longitudinal body 14 means the long base of the hair band 10. The longitudinal body 14 may have a first end and a second end. At one end of the longitudinal body 14, there may be a loop 16 at the first end. The loop 16 may have a tab 18 attached. In relation to the first end, at the far end or distal end of the longitudinal body 14 may be a plug 12. The plug 12 may be inserted into the loop 16, this may allow hair to be retained between the loop 16 and the plug 12 along the longitudinal body 14.

As a non-limiting example, the plug 12 may be a cone. The cone may have a narrow end 22 and a thick end 24. The thick end 24 may act as a barrier 26 once the loop 16 passes through and engages the thick end 24. The cone would be threaded into the loop 16 while the longitudinal body 14 is being wrapped around hair. The narrow end 22 of the cone would be pushed into the loop 16 until the loop 16 expands to allow the cone to pass through. Once the cone passes the thick end 24 through the loop 16, the loop 16 may take its original form thereby preventing the plug 12 from releasing. The barrier 26 would be larger than the loop 16 and would not be released. The loop 16 would engage the plug 12 and prevent it from releasing. This would allow the longitudinal body 14 to hold the hair and would be secured by the plug 12 that is engaged in the loop 16.

As a non-limiting example, the plug 12 may be a ball. The ball may be a round or circular object. The ball may act as a barrier once the loop 16 passes through and engages the ball. The ball would be threaded into the loop 16 while the longitudinal body 14 is being wrapped around hair. One end of the ball would be pushed into the loop 16 until the loop 16 expands to allow the ball to pass through. Once the ball passes one end through the loop 16, the loop 16 may take its original form thereby preventing the plug 12 from releasing. The circumference of the ball would be larger than the loop 16 and would not be released. The loop 16 would engage the plug 12 and prevent it from releasing. This would allow the longitudinal body 14 to hold the hair and would be secured by the plug 12 that is engaged in the loop 16.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hair band 10 may be made of plastic or rubber. Plastic and rubber have an elastic quality about the material and would be able to stretch when needed to hold hair. Moreover, the loop 16 may require a elastic quality in order for the loop 16 to stretch. This is important because the loop 16 may need to stretch in order to allow for the plug 12 to pass through then the loop 16 may have to revert to its original form to prevent the plug 12 from falling off. Furthermore, the hair band 10 may have a fabric surface in order to prevent the hair to be pulled inadvertently. Other materials may have too much friction and as a result would pull or damage hair by pulling when applying or releasing.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hair band 10 may have decorative shapes. As a non-limiting example, the hair band 10 may be in the shape of an insect, animal, flower, a heart or some other decorative shape. As another non-limiting example, the plug 12 may be in the shape of a sphere, a cube, a tubular shape, or pyramidal shape.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hair band 10 may be used to fasten hair. The hair band 10 would include a longitudinal body 14, a loop 16, a tab 18, and a plug 12. The loop 16 may be slid over the plug 12 and on to the longitudinal body 14. Once the loop 16 goes over the plug 12, the loop 16 would retain its original shape and would prevent the plug 12 from falling off the hair band 10 by allowing the plug 12 to act as a barrier 26. Moreover, the tab 18 may be pulled to release the plug 12 from the loop 16 in order to release the hair. The loop 16 would be stretched beyond the original shape and would allow the plug 12 to be released. As a non-limiting example, the plug 12 may be a cone or ball and would be thread through the loop 16. As a non-limiting example, the hair band 10 may be in the shape of an insect, animal, flower, a heart or some other decorative shape. As another non-limiting example, the plug 12 may be in the shape of a sphere, a cube, a tubular shape, or pyramidal shape.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible. 

1. A hair band consisting of: a longitudinal body having a first end and a second end; a loop at said first end of said longitudinal body, a tab is attached to said loop; and a single plug at said second end, wherein said plug can be removeably inserted into said loop thereby creating a continuous circular shape.
 2. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said plug is cone shaped.
 3. The hair band of claim 2, wherein said plug has a narrow end and a thick end, wherein said thick end acts as a barrier once said loop passes through and engages said thick end.
 4. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said plug is ball shaped, wherein said plug acts as a barrier once said loop passes through and engages said ball.
 5. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said hair band is plastic.
 6. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said hair band is rubber.
 7. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said hair band further has a fabric surface.
 8. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said plug resembles decorative shapes.
 9. The hair band of claim 1, wherein said hair band has multiple designs.
 10. A method for fastening a hair band to hair, said method consisting the steps of: providing said hair band, wherein the device includes longitudinal body, loop with a tab, and a single plug; sliding said loop over said plug and onto said longitudinal body; releasing said loop to prevent said plug from falling off said hair band by allowing said plug to act as a barrier.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said tab is pulled to release said plug from the loop to release hair.
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. The method claim of 10, wherein said plug is cone shaped.
 16. The method claim of 10, wherein said plug is ball shaped, wherein said plug acts as a barrier once said loop passes through and engages said ball.
 17. The method claim of 10, wherein said plug resembles decorative shapes. 